September 22, 2019

Back In The Ukraine

The NY Times explains that the "focus" of the Whistleblower scandal is whether Trump abused Presidential power for political purposes in 2019. Trump wants to "deflect" from that by alleging that Obama/Biden abused Presidential power for political purposes by pressuring the Ukraine in 2016. Hmm.

The controversy has focused on whether Mr. Trump manipulated foreign policy — a military aid package to Ukraine had been delayed at the time of the phone call — to pressure the country’s newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to take action to damage Mr. Biden’s election bid.

On Saturday, Mr. Trump sought to deflect attention from that question by accusing Mr. Biden of acting improperly as vice president in calling for the ouster of a Ukranian prosecutor who had overseen an inquiry into corruption related to the oligarch whose company employed Hunter Biden.

No evidence has surfaced to support Mr. Trump’s claim that the former vice president intentionally tried to help his son by pressing for the prosecutor general’s dismissal. But some State Department officials had expressed concern that Hunter Biden’s work in Ukraine could complicate his father’s diplomacy there.

No evidence has emerged, which might be a predictable consequence of a quashed investigation. Then again, proving there is no evidence offers the usual challenge of proving a negative. Fun for everyone!

Well. If the media can take down Trump *and* Biden its a win-win for their most engaged readership/viewership. TBF, it also creates a huge opening in the Sane Center, if there is any viable candidate left to fill it.

United, Delta and American received letters last year from Chinese aviation officials saying their social credit score could be hit unless their websites labeled Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan as part of China.

Fascinating 2014 Reuters flashback in which @CREWcrew and @RWPUSA argue that Hunter Biden's Ukraine work isn't a conflict of interest. Melanie Sloan, then head of CREW: “It can’t be that because your dad is the vice president, you can’t do anything.” I guess the rules changed. pic.twitter.com/08tHf0Cbdm

This in microcosm was went wromg in the east bloc, with sachs and summers playing their little games, v for short was an environmemt and energy minister then he set up his own shop, they relied on the krysha of janukovich who was backed by the kremlin, mamafort tried to negotiate a deal with the eu, but y was criminally stupid, so the former found it was better to makr tracks. But burisma like theranos attracted people with contacts like mr k and ellis (as ive dubbed him)

Discussing the 2016 MI recount in the comments at BJG, these numbers were posted by a resident:

"In the recount 39% of Detroit precincts registered more votes than ballots were cast. The worst registered 306 votes on 50 ballots. That’s why an Obama-appointed judge ordered an end to the Michigan recount."

The earlier attacks on Iranian allied militias or Quds forces in Iraq and Syria were covert, as detailed in my posts above. Probably Israeli, maybe not, in origin, but were those munitions that were destroyed meant to be used in the ARAMCO attack?

Was it supposed to be a disguised attack with missiles launched outside of Iranian territory and the IRGC had to change their plans, by launching from Iranian territory after those munitions were destroyed?

That might make sense, that the IRGC was hell-bent on an attack on ARAMCO and had to change their plans.

So was this an IRGC strategy, or an Iranian government strategy?

IOW, is the IRGC doing what it wants, regardless of what Iran wants? Who, if anybody, is in control here? Is the Iranian government in control of the IRGC, or just reacting to what they do?

I still think that the greatest threat from Iran to Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states are Iranian missiles, but the covert action seems more appropriate.

Keep doing whatever it is that someone is doing to take out the Iraq land-bridge the Iranians have and hit their forces in Syria.

Hold off on a direct strike on Iran, but find a way to anonymously and covertly hit them.

President Trump: "I can do it very easily, but I'd rather not do it from the standpoint of all of the other conversations I have. I may do it, 'cause it was a very innocent call." pic.twitter.com/PxrFbS3uqZ

.@realDonaldTrump
is showing that real strength and statesmanship can coexist with restraint. America is unquestionably the mightiest military power in the world and can win any military conflict. President Trump is wise to evaluate what is and is not in our national interest.

I am about to explain the reinvention of the vision of how government should serve as a 'tutor' of its 'citizenry' to get at the inner motivations of their future action.

That kind of ruling or mitt romney acting like the very mention of the name trump smells like san francisco's sidewalks reminds me of the 'governing class' insisting we have not properly learned our lessons and do not yet have the desired attitudes, values, and mores.

Whatever is blooming in atl had me up at 4:30 for mucinex D, but condolences to dr j, congrats to kk, and thoughts are with steph on tomorrow's consultation.

Hopefully back to writing today before lunch duty with my dad.

Momto 2 will appreciate my mom has made a water bottle to spray her kitten when he does something inappropriate and labeled it "Bad Boomer Bottle'. He flees now when she merely picks it up.

President Trump: "The one who's got the problem is Biden. 'Cause you look at what Biden did, Biden did what they would like to have me do except for one problem. I didn't do it. What Biden did is a disgrace, what his son did is a disgrace." pic.twitter.com/t3ulwNiKSf